[OSENWORLD] South Korean forward Yoon Do-young, 19, is set to begin his European football journey with Dutch side Excelsior Rotterdam on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. But his promising debut on the continent was overshadowed by an awkward slip-up from his parent club.
Excelsior officially announced the signing on July 16 (KST), confirming that Yoon joins the squad on loan from Brighton and will integrate with the team once his visa process is complete.
Yoon made his professional debut in January 2023 with K League side Daejeon Hana Citizen. While he registered just 1 goal and 3 assists in 19 appearances, his electric pace, fearless dribbling, and composure under pressure from defenders quickly turned heads in the domestic league.
In March 2024, Brighton secured Yoon’s transfer with a long-term contract through 2030. Although he officially joined the Premier League side in July, he was immediately loaned out to Excelsior to gain first-team experience.
Reflecting on his decision, Yoon shared, “After talking with Coach Ruben den Uil, I really understood the club’s playing style. I felt this was a strong and impressive team—that’s what made the decision clear for me.”
He also revealed a warm welcome from fellow Korean international Hwang In-beom, who currently plays for Eredivisie powerhouse Feyenoord. “Hwang reached out first and it turns out we’re not far from each other. He said, ‘Let’s meet when you arrive,’ and that meant a lot. I really want to approach him myself. It would be an honor to play alongside him one day.”
However, Brighton’s social media team sparked confusion when they announced Yoon’s move in Japanese instead of Korean—despite Yoon being South Korean. The post was quickly deleted and reuploaded in English—but notably, there was no Korean-language version.
Brighton is home to Japan national team winger Kaoru Mitoma, who made headlines last season by becoming the first Japanese player to score double digits (10 goals) in a single Premier League season.
The mishap raised eyebrows among Korean fans, who were left wondering why Brighton failed to acknowledge Yoon’s nationality correctly in such a high-profile moment of his career.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
